I’m struggling with a persistent mental running rut/procrastination issues and self doubt/imposter syndrome.
I have gained 12 lbs in 3 months bc of some difficult stuff my child’s going through and the attention needed to be swiftly directed off anything but that. Im running, but needing walk breaks because of my negative thoughts (this is hard, I can’t do this, this is uncomfortable)
And since I’m off work right now I am the queen of procrastinating getting started then I get stuck in a cycle of increased heat as the morning goes on.
I’ve been up since 6 and dressed and it’s 10 and I haven’t done it. 5 miles on the books today.
Hugs, campermom. I've had trouble getting started only to be thwarted by the heat, too. In previous summer training cycles I was ALWAYS out the door by 7am at the latest and I just can't seem to motivate to do the same this cycle and then I'm miserably hot by half way through my run. Can you do some evening runs instead? I ran home from the office yesterday (~6 miles) and found it to be more enjoyable than I anticipated. Also, there is nothing wrong with taking walk breaks!!
As soon as I typed this out I thought of the book that’s helped me more than ever “Calm The F Down: The Brace Athlete. Rise to the occasion” by Simon and Leslie Marshall.
As soon as I typed this out I thought of the book that’s helped me more than ever “Calm The F Down: The Brace Athlete. Rise to the occasion” by Simon and Leslie Marshall.
I checked it out on Hoopla to listen to it again!
I love that book!
I've been struggling with motivation for ages (like....a year), and recently had a bit of a breakthrough giving myself permission to run at really random times. After a couple of rather late night runs I kinda got my mojo back and am back to my normal early run schedule. And just in time since today was my first run of my "official" marathon training schedule.
Not to say that particular change is magic, but I think taking a very specific expectation off yourself can get you through a hump when you just have a motivation block on that very specific action. Whatever that looks like for you.
campermom, I find those sort of negative thoughts are way more intense when it's hot out, and I also second the idea to try evening runs if you can manage the GI end of things. I struggle with eating and later day runs, but I ran at night once recently while bouncing back from shingles and it made a really big difference in my ability to tolerate discomfort.
It was also only in the 60s when I ran this morning (and drizzling), and that helped too. I think if you can make a few adjustments to make a few "good" runs happen it will help with the mental side of things. At least I find it does.
campermom - I struggle with the same. There is nothing wrong with walk breaks or the walk/run method! For my long runs, my goal is “time on my feet” vs pace and that helps the negative mindset a bit. Other things that help me are:
-saving my fav podcasts for running -new running gear in my size - running with friends/groups
campermom, this is my first summer training season, and man I've had to figure out how to give myself grace because it's 1) hotter 2) sunnier 3) more humid and 4) I'm also 10lbs heavier than i was last spring.
I have to tell my self that taking a break is ok. Walking is ok. Higher than average paces - a-OK.
MH tested positive for covid last night. My test was neg, but I feel crappy so I'm treating it like a presumptive positive. What kind of bad luck is this for a training cycle, to have shingles and then covid in week 4 of shingles?! FFS.
MH tested positive for covid last night. My test was neg, but I feel crappy so I'm treating it like a presumptive positive. What kind of bad luck is this for a training cycle, to have shingles and then covid in week 4 of shingles?! FFS.
Nooooooooo! I hope if you do have it, it's quick and relatively minor.
MH tested positive for covid last night. My test was neg, but I feel crappy so I'm treating it like a presumptive positive. What kind of bad luck is this for a training cycle, to have shingles and then covid in week 4 of shingles?! FFS.
Noooooo! Fingers crossed for you. FWIW, when I had Covid no one else in my family got it. Then a year later both kids got it and neither DH or I did. We never isolated so it’s not a lost cause!
I'm trying to see it as a good thing, like a covid immunity booster. Whether I ever test pos or not (so far, no), my immune system will definitely encounter some viral particles so it's a little refresher course at least on fighting covid. Better now than right before race day, or even peak mileage periods.
I still don't feel 100%, but I don't really feel "sick" either, so planning to mostly KOKO and mask in public indoors JIC. 12 miles tomorrow!
Post by Wines Not Whines on Aug 16, 2024 22:48:58 GMT -5
Susie I’ve run MCM several times (I’m local). Old Town Alexandria is great, but it would also be very convenient to stay near the race start in Pentagon City. BTW the start area is huge. You have to go through security (which was very quick when I ran MCM 2 years ago), but then you have to walk a long way to the start line. It was fine, but I would definitely build in extra time and wear an extra layer of clothes if it’s a cold morning.
As for running gels, my favorite is Huma, especially the fruit flavors (I don’t like the chocolate and mocha as much). My second favorite is Maurten.
For long runs, does everyone really train at 60-90 seconds slower pace than target race pace? I'm on marathon 3 and I have trouble with this. I totally get the "time on your feet" logic, but I have trouble slowing down that much and generally just run by feel. I've been running my longs at what I hope/expect my race pace will be because the suggested pace feels really awkward to me. Also, I don't have time for that lol. I know I should really slow doesn't because the final 10k for both my previous marathons were MISERABLE and there is likely some correlation there.
scm1011 - I do, but mainly because it is SO HOT. I do sometimes try to add in some GMP miles in there. So, for like a 20 miler, I might do:
Miles 1-5: GMP + 90 seconds Miles 6-11: GMP Miles 12- 20: GMP + 90 seconds
My random: I’m struggling to pick a goal for this marathon. I am undertrained and less than 2 months from my marathon. Last year, I ran 4:25. Should I revise my goal of 4:24? I was hoping to use this weekends half to evaluate but it got canceled. Maybe 4:45? I like having a goal, but really don’t even know where to begin. How are you all choosing?
brooke77, I'm having trouble choosing a goal too. This is marathon 3 for me, and I finished my first two marathons in 4:24 (2015) and 4:22 (2017). I'm 7 years older and 25lbs heavier so I'm not sure its realistic to try to go <4:20 like I'd like. I think I'll probably choose ABC goals, like my A (stretch!) goal is <4:20, B goal is <4:30, C goal is to finish lol. If you're undertrained I think being easier on yourself is a good idea.
I've been going entirely on feel for pace, because I don't really have a goal for this (my first) marathon.
If I had to pick some numbers, I'd say I'm aiming-ish for a 4:45 full, based on going about 1 minute/mile slower (10:53 m/m) than I did in the two halfs that I've done in the last year. Those were both about 2:09 / 9:51 m/m.
My recent long runs have generally been in the 10 m/m range. Yesterday most of my miles were in the 10s, with the 14th/last mile of my long run at 8:55. I'm sure I'll slow down as they get longer, but for now I've not only failed to run slower than the "goal" pace, I've actually been running faster than it.
I have no idea whether I'm more wrong about my projected finish time, or my long run pace for now, so I'll just KOKO.
C goal is just finish.
B goal is finish with dignity, lol.
A goal... IDK?
Feel seems appropriate to this level of (non-)specificity.
This is my first road marathon and I'm a Slow AF Runner (TM), so my pace goal is "Ahead of Sweeper Bus" and my long run pace has been by Zone 2 HR. I think realistically I can set a goal faster than that, but I really am just not sure what that actually looks like.
The idea of running 90 seconds/mile faster than my long run pace for TWENTY SIX FREAKING MILES sounds crazy. Like, I definitely CAN run faster than I'm going on those long runs, and do regularly on my shorter runs, but like...for the whole thing? how tho? With whose legs?
This is my first road marathon and I'm a Slow AF Runner (TM), so my pace goal is "Ahead of Sweeper Bus" and my long run pace has been by Zone 2 HR. I think realistically I can set a goal faster than that, but I really am just not sure what that actually looks like.
The idea of running 90 seconds/mile faster than my long run pace for TWENTY SIX FREAKING MILES sounds crazy. Like, I definitely CAN run faster than I'm going on those long runs, and do regularly on my shorter runs, but like...for the whole thing? how tho? With whose legs?
This is great! My long runs are always in Zone 4 which I know isn't good (it doesn't feel threshold!). I know some people swear by HR training and its something I want to try eventually.
So next weekend (not labor day weekend, the w/e after) I've got 10 miles on the schedule, but I'm doing an Oly Tri on Saturday. Would you - add 4 painful miles on after you finish the race? attempt 10 hungover miles on tired legs on sunday after going out for drinks after the race? Or call 1500 swim/24.6 bike/6.2 run good enough?
Strongly leaning toward the final option, but I've had two weeks now of disrupted training (fucking covid) and feel like I need to really crack down on getting those miles in? Or no, that's silly, I just do my damn race in place of my long run?
17 miles done this morning! This marathon training thing is getting real, ha. It was not my best run, but I got it done. I accidentally saved it on my Garmin halfway through and I'm irrationally annoyed about having it split into 2 runs in my log. It messes up my stats and I don't get to see my pretty complete map lol. My newish Garmin is touchscreen and so sensitive. I miss my old manual guy.
scm1011 , what model do you have? I have a Vivo Active which is fine for daily use, but I miss some of the features my 910XT had. It used to auto stop when I stopped at lights and auto-restart, it used to notify me at certain intervals so I could peg nutrition/hydration to the notifications, and turn by turn would be nice as routes get longer. So I've been casually starting to shop Forerunner models... but it sounds like yours has been a PIA lately!
17 miles done this morning! This marathon training thing is getting real, ha. It was not my best run, but I got it done. I accidentally saved it on my Garmin halfway through and I'm irrationally annoyed about having it split into 2 runs in my log. It messes up my stats and I don't get to see my pretty complete map lol. My newish Garmin is touchscreen and so sensitive. I miss my old manual guy.
that's so annoying! I refused to go touchscreen for something i want to use in the rain and wind and while swimming and while tired with cold fingers and sweaty fingers and have under sleeves and gloves and blah blah blah.... I was so glad when they came out with the instinct 2 just as I was very ready to replace my old watch since it's not touch screen, it's not color, etc etc - but it does have great battery life and all the multisport features. But I'm also like a total crusty old person who says things like, "why does everything have to be "improved" with touch screens and an app? I don't want all that! I just want a washing machine!!"
Congrats on 17 though! I slept through my alarm and missed my run.
DC area runners - I have an upcoming work trip and will be staying in the GW/Foggy Bottom area. I often run toward the national mall from Foggy Bottom, but this time I'm staying a little closer to Georgetown, like 1/3 mile to Rock Creek trail. I was entertaining popping over there and doing an out & back.
Safe? Not safe? Any better suggestions? I need to do 4 miles early on a weekday AM. TIA!
DC area runners - I have an upcoming work trip and will be staying in the GW/Foggy Bottom area. I often run toward the national mall from Foggy Bottom, but this time I'm staying a little closer to Georgetown, like 1/3 mile to Rock Creek trail. I was entertaining popping over there and doing an out & back.
Safe? Not safe? Any better suggestions? I need to do 4 miles early on a weekday AM. TIA!
I've never run that particular trail on an early weekday morning. I'm more familiar with C&O and Cap Crescent Trails (which are also near there..they all pretty much come together where Rock Creek dumps into the Potomac), and I know, for me, those are totally fine at basically all hours. They get so much use there's not a creepy all alone time to be on them. Not sure if Rock Creek Trail hits that level too, but if I were you'd go for it.
Last long run done - 10 miles! Felt decent, all major organs and my Achilles cooperated. I had to drive home on the highway with my windows down because I couldn't stand the smell of me - blegh!
Now I am clean and going to lay on the couch for the rest of the day.
Post by campermom on Sept 14, 2024 13:50:05 GMT -5
My 10 today was a huge win bc I came in at avg 11:18 and I’m FINALLY getting back to my normal paces after a few years and a 2 year long mental rut. Ive done long ones this cycle but not alone/not in a race. Most times I’d quit pretty quickly.
It was a step back week for me, so 13 miles. It was slow and rough going because for some reason I decided to do a bunch of weighted squats and lunges Thursday for the first time in 6+ weeks. My legs were DEAD. But, it’s done